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Grandma hooked on sleeping pills? Grandpa hooked on alcohol? No way! The elderly are supposed to be on medication. They're supposed to live life easy. They know better then to get into substance abuse.

Medications are very easy to get these days. At the drop of a hat a physician seems willing to prescribe a pill to fix problems. Unfortunately, many of these pills are habit forming. Some just trap you psychology or mentally. You have to have this pill or that pill to fix this thing or that thing. Then you have to have another pill to fix the side effects of the first pill. It's a bad cycle.

What makes the problem even worse is your body gets used to pills. The more you take, the more you need to feel the same effects. Doctors don't want the elderly suffering. If a doctor refuses to help then the person usually goes to a different doctor. Before you know it without thinking Grandma and Grandpa are going to several doctors for the same things. They are then given samples and prescriptions for medications.

Some of the substance abuse problems are from lack of knowledge. Twenty years ago, they had no idea how bad nicotine and smoking was. Drinking is a society thing. Understanding alcoholism was not nearly what it is today. Now you have elderly people abusing these drugs because it has already become a habit. They don't want to make big changes in their lives at their age.

There is no good and simple solution to the problem. You can help by being aware of what your parents and the elderly people in your life are taking and doing. Talk to them about your concerns and let them know that you love them and care.

Learn more about this author, Joyce Priddy.
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